Category Archives: Alternative Medicine

Cannabis is something that brings up many taboos in Indian society. A subject of intense debate globally, cannabis is finding increasing acceptance in the medical community, with global developments in terms of policy and society for accepting medicinal cannabis. It is thoroughly ingrained in the Indian Ayurveda and Atharvaveda system, it is high time that there is a consensus about its huge medicinal potential in modern-day India.

To justify the title and the content, it is pertinent that I start here. Cannabis and hemp are of the same species, but with different chemical components that make them. Cannabis has a large concentration of Tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC) and a low amount of Cannabidiol (CBD). Hemp is just the opposite, having high traces of CBD and a low concentration of THC.

While both seemingly look interchangeable, cannabis is used for recreational and medicinal uses while hemp is for medicinal and industrial uses.

Late actor Irrfan Khans wife Sutapa Sikdar appealed to legalise CBD oil in India. This widens the socio-political scenario of using hemp as a treatment method in India. CBD oil is an extract from the cannabis plant.

The two main substances in it are cannabidiol and delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol. The high that is caused by the consumption of cannabis is due to THC. CBD, however, does not cause any form of intoxication. CBD oil is made by extracting CBD from the cannabis plant and then diluting it with another form of oil like coconut or hemp seed oil.

Cannabidiol affects the brain, preventing the breakdown of a chemical that aggravates the pain and affects mood and mental functions along with reduction of pain and anxiety. It also reduces psychotic symptoms associated with conditions such as schizophrenia as well as epilepsy.

According to sources and archaeological findings, cannabis was used for varying ailments as a treatment methodology. Besides medical usage, it was also used for cultural, religious and spiritual reasons. The earliest written reference to Cannabis in India occurs in the Atharvaveda, dating to about 1500 BCE. This ancient document speaks of the bhang plant as one of the five sacred plants and as a source of happiness, giver of joy, and bringer of freedom. We tell of the five kingdoms of herbs headed by Soma; may it, and kusa grass, and bhang and barley, and the herb saha, release us from anxiety.

It was also used as a common staple food as hemp seeds were common and nutritious. The usage of hemp was shunned in the 20th century. This happened not only in India but worldwide. The main reason was the usage of cannabis as a narcotic. With the advent of opiates, there was a significant shift in modern-day medicine and clinical research based on treatments and ailments that were not cannabis. In recent times, it has come to light that opiates may be more dangerous than initially believed while cannabis turns out to be more medicinally useful than believed.

Indias primary fiasco is the stigma that prevails around the usage of cannabis in general. Therefore the first step is to break the stigma by making the treatment method available to severely ill patients and then open it up to the market at large for milder treatments. It is legalised in a few countries by a combination of limiting sellers, quality control, prescription-only usage and as a last resort method. The latest studies show that the medical usage of cannabis can also shun the risk of getting infected by COVID-19 as well.

Modern-day medical usage is gathered by risk versus benefits profiling and ensuring the quality of the product. Along with the fact that Indias pharmaceutical industry is well developed and there are ample research facilities, the first modern medicinal usage of CBD could be as early as 1-2 years in the future. However, sufficient funding, easy access to permits and adequate interest have to be shown in the sector.

The United States has reached a point where there are 91 deaths per year due to opiates. If India can avoid this pitfall and realise the true medical potential of cannabis, it will yield better results and lesser deaths. Moreover, this opens up a newer market for medicinal drugs and can further boost our economy.

At the I-CARE summit in 2016, the Drug Controller General Of India said, Yes, we want to have a lenient approach rather than a restrictive approach. You people will be thinking and working together and as a regulator and technocrat, we are with you, till you are scientifically going to prove that you will protect the people of this country. We have already worked out the phytopharmaceutical path for new product development to be used for humanity and the people of this country. You can use that platform. I see huge potential in these kinds of alternative medicines in the treatment of patients and people.

Since then, the government has provided licences, albeit limited, to grow medically valuable marijuana in certain places and of course, with regulation.

On a more personal note, I would like to tell you readers that I will stop writing for ED Times for a while now, due to personal reasons. Hope you enjoyed the content that I brought along for the ride and maybe learnt something new every month.

Image Credits: Google Images

Sources: Business World, Indian Express, India Today

Connect With The Blogger: Shouvonik Bose

This post is tagged under: cannabis, hemp, marijuana, CBD oil, medical marijuana, usage of marijuana in India, growth of hemp treatments, legality of marijuana in India, history of hemp in India

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By Dr. Sanchit Sharma,

As Ayurveda takes over the world as an alternate system of treatment and medication, the Ayurveda sector in India eyes the Union Budget 2022 for a probable push towards better Research and Development of the ancient science of life. Ayurveda has been providing holistic solutions to ailments, physical and mental, for ages, but notable progress on the science has been made only in the last decade.

With the influence of biomedicine, Ayurveda has furthered itself towards medicalization. Standardization and professionalization of Ayurveda through practice and application at the community, individuals, and healthcare providers level has further contributed to enhancing the Ayurvedic sector. Despite the progress, leveraging the Herbal, AYUSH, and the Nutraceutical Industrys domestic and export potential is yet another thing. The industrial outcome pertaining to meeting such demands may not come without a generous consideration from the government.

Ayurveda as Alternative Medicine System

The understanding of health in Ayurveda is based on adaptive feedback, which each person establishes with the environment. It is more than a biological process involving mind and body fitness. Ayurveda today has prospered as an alternative medication even for people with critical illnesses. It has largely been helpful for people with chronic debilitating conditions to take medications under conditions of critical care.

Besides mentioned properties, with the intervention of Ayurveda in routine lives, people have subscribed to the notion of enhanced immunity with regular use. The science of from the plants to the plates has effectively changed the notion of health, which was seen as the absence of disease by healthcare providers. The emphasis is instead on the constant state of living, which Ayurveda continually expands on.

Ayurveda under Governments Push

In the face of the global health crisis, the NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has propounded the idea of combating Covid-19 with the holistic human science, Ayurveda. It has commendable and wholesome therapeutic properties as a practicable alternative healthcare system. Now that we know the importance of natural immunity, the need for Ayurveda, its practice, and its application has been all the more lucid to us. In the fourth chapter of the Global Ayurveda Festival held last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated the goodness and impact of Ayurveda and traditional medication. Mr. Modi also emphasized the importance of integrating Ayurveda with evidence-based medical science at the Festival.

Previously, the Government has undertaken popular surveys on peoples familiarity with Ayurveda through the ministry of AYUSH. Moreover, the Government has been promoting the sale of Ayurvedic medicine through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) at various outlets across the country.

Budget Estimates for Ayurveda 2022

Last year, the Ayurvedic Sector requested Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to announce a GST waiver on products with a license (a maximum of 5% on supplements and nil on Ayurvedic products), enabling customers to buy over-the-counter Ayurvedic medicines at lower prices. In the prior budget, the sector was anticipating that it would be focused on Research and Development and Innovation.

One of the agendas of the Association of Herbal and Nutraceutical Manufacturers of India (AHNMI) was the establishment of a cross-ministerial task force under a Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, which would also be a stepping stone to make nutraceuticals into $25 billion industry by 2030. A separate budget for the manufacture, procurement, and marketing of Ayurvedic medicine is expected in 2022. Boosting Ayurvedic medicine in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision of PM Narendra Modi is also foreseen.

Conclusion

To ensure sustainability for the Ayurveda industries to compete with world leaders, the 2022 budget is a vital aspect of the sector. From the pioneers of Research in Ayurveda to healthcare providers, the 2022 budget would create a unique ecosystem that makes the science of Ayurveda more acceptable to the masses.

(The author isFounder & M.D., Ayouthveda. Views expressed are personal and do not reflect the official position or policy of the Financial Express Online.)

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Budget 2022 expectations: Will FM Nirmala Sitharaman provide much-needed booster shot to Ayurveda Industry? - Financial Express

While most herbal teas are safe to drink, people with certain health conditions and those who take medication should check in with their doctor.

Image Credit: imtmphoto/iStock/GettyImages

If you're craving a flavorful drink without added sugar or with less caffeine, or you just aren't a coffee fan (we see you), tea is a great alternative. Whether you want something fruity like hibiscus or citrusy and floral like Earl Grey, tea boasts plenty of health benefits.

But before you start swinging cup after cup, one crucial step many people often make when drinking herbal teas is not checking in with their doctor or dietitian before introducing them into their diets.

"Many people believe that 'natural' is safer and don't consider the possibility that natural herbal teas may interact with drugs or have negative side effects for certain medical conditions like pregnancy," says Amber Trejo, RDN, dietitian and founder of Naked Wellness. "It's also important to note that herbal teas aren't regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)."

Although most herbal teas are generally considered safe in modest amounts, people who live with certain health conditions should limit or avoid some herbal teas, says Tamar Samuels, RD, CDN, co-founder of Culina Health.

For example, if you have diabetes, are taking blood thinners for stroke prevention or are on antidepressants, drinking certain herbal teas may interact with your medications. We flagged some herbal teas you should limit or avoid drinking altogether if you live with these health conditions.

Samuels recommends taking medications 2 to 3 hours apart from drinking tea if you're concerned about potential interactions. Talk to your doctor if you're unsure about specific herb-drug interactions.

Medications that have a narrow therapeutic window meaning small changes in the blood concentration of the drug can cause adverse events have a greater chance of interacting with herbal teas, Samuels explains.

"If you're taking cyclosporine (immunosuppressant), anticoagulants (blood thinners), digoxin (medication for heart failure or irregular heart rhythm) or anticonvulsive drugs, it is best to work with a healthcare provider to determine which herbal teas are safest for you."

This nighttime favorite has been used to help with sleep because it helps reduce anxiety, thanks to its mild tranquilizing effects, according to a November 2010 article in Molecular Medicine Reports.

Chamomile may also help lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. According to a small January 2016 study in Nutrition, short-term intake of chamomile tea has beneficial effects on glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes.

But drinking copious amounts may significantly lower your blood sugar.

"Lowering blood sugar too much can result in a hypoglycemic event. If you are a person with diabetes, you don't have to avoid chamomile tea but should monitor your blood sugar closely should you choose to drink it. Working with a registered dietitian can help determine if or how much chamomile tea is safe for you," Samuels says.

Green tea has also been shown to interact with some medications that are used to treat heart conditions, Samuels says, so it's best to limit green tea if you are taking these medications.

"Green tea leaves (dried) contain vitamin K, which can increase blood clotting. Large amounts of vitamin K may interfere with the activity of some blood thinners, like warfarin," Dunn says.

"Lisinopril is frequently prescribed for treating hypertension and heart failure, so people taking it should limit their consumption of green tea and green tea extracts because they can decrease the effectiveness of the drug."

"Gingko tea and green tea should be avoided if you have a health condition that requires the use of blood-thinning medications, including Coumadin (warfarin), Plavix (clopidogrel), aspirin and other anticoagulants," Samuels says.

This is because ginkgo biloba slows blood clotting, and taking it in conjunction with other drugs, such as ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin, can increase your risk of bleeding, says Brittany Dunn, RD, a sports dietitian and performance chef.

People who have epilepsy or those taking antidepressants avoid drinking ginkgo tea, Trejo notes. Taking large amounts of ginkgo may cause seizures and reduce the effectiveness of anticonvulsant drugs, per the Mayo Clinic. It might also weaken certain antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (Prozac and Sarafem) and imipramine (Tonfranil).

4. Ginseng and Licorice Teas

Just like ginkgo biloba, ginseng and licorice teas can reduce the effectiveness of anticoagulant medications including warfarin, Samuels says. Avoid these teas if you experience blood clots and have deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or other health conditions that are treated with anticoagulants.

Ginseng can also reduce the effectiveness of certain chemotherapeutic and HIV agents, calcium channel blockers, some statin medications and certain antidepressants, Dunn says.

"Calcium channel blockers are used to treat high blood pressure and may also be prescribed to mitigate symptoms of coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, angina, high cholesterol and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease," Dunn says.

St. John's wort interacts with a variety of medications, including antidepressants, birth control pills, cyclosporine, HIV drugs and blood thinners, Trejo says, so make sure to talk with your doctor before you drink teas with St. John's wort.

Although many people claim that St. John's wort can help treat depression in combination with antidepressants, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says that adding St. John's wort to your depression treatment plan can lead to dangerous levels of serotonin in the body.

Link:

5 Herbal Teas That Interact With Drugs and Medications - Livestrong

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Submission supported by data from a Phase 3 bridging study of oliceridine injection compared to IV morphine, conducted in China by Nhwa

Trevena is eligible to receive future success payments upon approval and commercialization milestones, as well as a 10% royalty on net sales in China

CHESTERBROOK, Pa., Jan. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trevena, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRVN), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel medicines for patients with central nervous system (CNS) disorders, today announced that Chinas National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has accepted submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) for oliceridine injection. The NDA was submitted by Trevenas partner, Jiangsu Nhwa Pharmaceutical, and follows completion by Nhwa of a Phase 3 bridging trial for OLINVYK (oliceridine) injection, a novel IV analgesic that has been approved in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in adults for the management of acute pain severe enough to require an intravenous opioid analgesic and for whom alternative treatments are inadequate.

"We are pleased to see the data presented in Nhwas NDA submission are consistent with data from our registration studies in the US, said Carrie Bourdow, President and CEO of Trevena. We are confident that Nhwa is the right strategic partner to advance OLINVYK in China and believe that this collaboration has the potential to create significant value for our stakeholders over the years ahead.

Trevena executed an exclusive License Agreement in 2018 with Nhwa to develop, manufacture, and commercialize OLINVYK in China and is eligible to receive regulatory and commercial milestone payments as well a 10% royalty on net sales in China.

Nhwas submission to the NMPA included data from two clinical bridging studies in Chinese patients, based on feedback from Chinas NMPA: a dose-escalation, open-label, single-dose study to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and safety profile; and a randomized, double-blind, positive-controlled Phase 3 bridging study in subjects with moderate to severe acute pain after abdominal surgery to evaluate the analgesic efficacy and safety of OLINVYK compared with IV morphine.

The results of the Phase 3 bridging study show that the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of oliceridine in Chinese patients is consistent with the data from global studies and demonstrates safety and tolerability in Chinese populations. The launch of OLINVYK in China, if approved by the NMPA, will help to address the significant unmet need in acute pain management.

About Trevena

Trevena, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative medicines for patients with CNS disorders. The Company has one approved product in the United States, OLINVYK (oliceridine) injection, indicated in adults for the management of acute pain severe enough to require an intravenous opioid analgesic and for whom alternative treatments are inadequate. The Companys novel pipeline is based on Nobel Prize winning research and includes four differentiated investigational drug candidates: TRV250 for the acute treatment of migraine, TRV734 for maintenance treatment of opioid use disorder, TRV045 for diabetic neuropathic pain and epilepsy, and TRV027 for acute respiratory distress syndrome and abnormal blood clotting in COVID-19 patients.

For more information, please visit http://www.Trevena.com

About Jiangsu Nhwa Pharmaceuticals

Jiangsu Nhwa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., is a Chinese pharmaceutical company committed to setting new standards in CNS healthcare. Nhwa endeavors to provide innovative, high quality medicines to CNS patients with serious unmet medical needs. Nhwa offers a growing portfolio of more than 100 marketed products covering more than 6000 hospitals throughout China, including antipsychotics, anesthetics and analgesics, and neurological products. For more than 60 years, Nhwa has focused on CNS medicine, and every member of Nhwa's approximately 3,000-strong workforce is dedicated to improving patient health and outcomes.

About OLINVYK (oliceridine) injection

OLINVYK is a new chemical entity approved by the FDA in August 2020. OLINVYK contains oliceridine, a Schedule II controlled substance with a high potential for abuse similar to other opioids. It is indicated in adults for the management of acute pain severe enough to require an intravenous opioid analgesic and for whom alternative treatments are inadequate. OLINVYK is available in 1 mg/1 mL and 2 mg/2 mL single-dose vials, and a 30 mg/30 mL single-patient-use vial for patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Approved PCA doses are 0.35 mg and 0.5 mg and doses greater than 3 mg should not be administered. The cumulative daily dose should not exceed 27 mg. Please see Important Safety Information, including the BOXED WARNING, and full prescribing information at http://www.OLINVYK.com.

Important Safety InformationWARNING: ADDICTION, ABUSE, AND MISUSE; LIFE-THREATENING RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION; NEONATAL OPIOID WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME; and RISKS FROM CONCOMITANT USE WITH BENZODIAZEPINES OR OTHER CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) DEPRESSANTS

ADDICTION, ABUSE, AND MISUSE OLINVYK exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death. Assess each patients risk before prescribing OLINVYK, and monitor all patients regularly for the development of behaviors or conditions.

LIFE-THREATENING RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION Serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression may occur with use of OLINVYK. Monitor for respiratory depression, especially during initiation of OLINVYK or following a dose increase.

NEONATAL OPIOID WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME Prolonged use of OLINVYK during pregnancy can result in neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, which may be life-threatening if not recognized and treated, and requires management according to protocols developed by neonatology experts. If opioid use is required for a prolonged period in a pregnant woman, advise the patient of the risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and ensure that appropriate treatment will be available.

RISK FROM CONCOMITANT USE WITH BENZODIAZEPINES OR OTHER CNS DEPRESSANTS Concomitant use of opioids with benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants, including alcohol, may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. Reserve concomitant prescribing for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate; limit dosages and durations to the minimum required; and follow patients for signs and symptoms of respiratory depression and sedation.

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for the Company, including statements about the Companys strategy, future operations, clinical development and trials of its therapeutic candidates, plans for potential future product candidates and other statements containing the words anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, intend, may, plan, predict, project, suggest, target, potential, will, would, could, should, continue, and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the status, timing, costs, results and interpretation of the Companys clinical trials or any future trials of any of the Companys investigational drug candidates; the uncertainties inherent in conducting clinical trials; expectations for regulatory interactions, submissions and approvals, including the Companys assessment of discussions with FDA; available funding; uncertainties related to the Companys intellectual property; uncertainties related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of the Companys therapeutic candidates and approved product; and other factors discussed in the Risk Factors set forth in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and in other filings the Company makes with the SEC from time to time. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Companys views only as of the date hereof. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause the Companys views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as may be required by law.

For more information, please contact:Investor Contact:Dan FerryManaging DirectorLifeSci Advisors, LLCdaniel@lifesciadvisors.com(617) 430-7576

PR & Media Contact:Sasha BennettAssociate Vice PresidentClyde GroupSasha.Bennett@clydegroup.com(239) 248-3409

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Trevena Announces Submission of New Drug Application in China for OLINVYK by its Partner Jiangsu Nhwa Pharmaceutical - StreetInsider.com

The registration for national-level counselling for undergraduate AYUSH courses for the academic year 202122 began on Saturday, 29 January.

Aspirants who have cleared the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET (UG), 2021, can register on the website http://www.aaccc.gov.in and do choice filling from Sunday, 30 January, onwards. The website is of the Ayush Admissions Central Counseling Committee.

(AYUSH is an acronym for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy. These are the six indigenous alternative medicine systems practised in India.)

No scope for changes or editsThe candidates must note that the information that you give during the registration would be final and wouldnt get another chance to change or edit it. Applicants who register more than once would be debarred.

Four rounds of counselling There are four rounds of counselling preceding the AYUSH course admissions. They are Round 1, 2, 3 ( (mopup) and the stray vacancy round.

Aspirants may register before the first three rounds within the stipulated dates. The number of seats that are up for grabs would be less from the second round onwards.

Candidates wouldnt be eligible for admission only because they got an allotment. They should meet all the eligibility criteria to secure admission to the courses.

They need to keep in mind the unique guidelines and fee structure of each institution before applying.

The seatsThe undergraduate seats for which the counselling is being held are in the following institutions:

1)Government/aided colleges in all the states and Union Territories except Jammu and Kashmir. (The AllIndia quota is 15%.)2)100% seats in Banaras Hindu University (Ayurveda), Delhi University (Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy) and deemed universities (all four branches)3)100% seats except those for nominated candidates in the Institute of Teaching and Research, Jamnagar (Ayurveda); National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur; and National Institute of Homoeopathy, Kolkata,4) 50% in Aligarh Muslim University (Unani) and North-Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Homoeopathy (NEIAH), Shillong (Ayurveda and Homeopathy).

The seat allotment to 15% AllIndia quota at the private institutes that arent deemed universities would be done by the state governments. All the seats at minority institutions of Jain/ Muslim/ Hindi Linguistic communities are wholly reserved for these categories.

Share of reservationReservations are available as per the guidelines of the central government1) for 15% AllIndia quota seats and at central universities and national institutes2) 15% for Scheduled Castes3) 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes4) 27% for Other Backward Classes, and5) 10% for Economically Weaker Sections.

The remaining 40.5% seats are open for the General category.

Also, 5% seats in each category are reserved for persons with disabilities.

Thiruvananthapuram Medical College is included in the list of 15 approved institutes that could issue certificates of disability.

Fee structureDeemed universities: Rs 5,000 as registration fee and Rs 50,000 as security deposit. The candidates have to pay a total of Rs 55,000. There is no waiver for any categories.

All central seats including AllIndia quota (barring deemed universities): Rs 1,000 for registration. The security deposit would be Rs 10,000. That would be a total of Rs 11,000. Meanwhile, it is Rs 500 and Rs 10,000 for Scheduled Castes/Tribes and persons with disabilities, making for a total of Rs 10,500.

The payment page would be opened as soon as you complete the registration. Fee could be paid using net banking/card.

Other guidelinesThe mobile number and the email id that were given during the application for NEET should be used for registration. A new password should be created and kept for further use. It is better to use a computer/laptop for choice filling and not a mobile phone.

The applicants can submit any number of choices.

Do not forget to lock in the choices. The choices could be re-set or re-arranged until they are locked. In case the candidate doesnt lock the choices, it would be automatically locked at the stipulated time. Then follows the processing and allotment.

Those who didnt get seats despite registering for the first round need not register in the second round. Similarly, those who didnt get any seats allotted in the first and second rounds need not re-register for the mop-up round. However, they need to do the choice filling again.

Meanwhile, there is no registration for the stray vacancy round.

Even the MCC cannot unlock the choices once they are locked in. So, the applicants need to be careful and double check before locking the choices.

Upgradation and free exitUpgradation and free exit are possible only in the first round. However, the candidates have to reach the college and join in order to retain the seat that has been allotted in the first round. They can then request for upgradation. If the upgradation is allowed, then the aspirants should strictly get a relieving letter before giving up the first seat.

Those who got a seat in the first round but didnt get an upgradation in the second round can give up the first one without losing the security deposit (free exit). However, if they didnt give up the seat within five days after the second allotment is announced, the admission in the first round would be considered as retained. Besides, the candidate wouldnt get another chance at counselling.

Those who didnt join the seat that has been allotted in the second round can choose free exit. In case they join the college, the candidate can still leave the seat until three days before the mop-up round begins. They wouldnt lose their security deposit.

However, the applicant would be considered as disqualified if he/she doesnt choose such an exit option. Then they cannot attend the AYUSH counselling anywhere including the states. The security deposit would be lost if the candidate doesnt join the college after they receive seat in the mop-up or the stray vacancy round. They would be disqualified too.

If the aspirant gets an upgradation after securing a seat in the second or the mop-up rounds, the current seat would be lost.

Those candidates who join a college after securing seat in the mop-up allotment wouldnt be considered during the state counselling.

Documents neededThe list of documents that need to be submitted while joining the college are given in the counselling bulletin (pages 21,22). However, the candidates should go through the website of the respective college or contact them directly to enquire whether they require any additional documents.

Click on the Archives link in the News & Events section on the UG counselling web page to get an idea about the scope of admission based on your position in the rank list. The category-based list of the last ranks at which the candidates got admission in 202021 would be in the website.

Helpline: 9354529990.

Read more from the original source:

AYUSH UG counselling: Registration begins; here's the checklist - Onmanorama

It has been a stormy start to the year for tennis world number one Novak Djokovic. Or, as memers like to call him, No-vax Djo-Covid. The Serbs anti-vaccination stance was known all through the pandemic, but the matter came to a head as he was denied access into Australia to play the calendar years first grand slam.

Though a federal court has ruled that the governments cancellation of his visa despite him getting a medical exemption from Australias strict vaccination mandate was illegal, the saga is far from over.

Nevertheless, Djokovics refusal to get vaccinated has once again brought to the fore his unorthodox beliefs and lifestyle.

The 34-year-old has frequently dismissed modern medicine and has been a proponent of alternative medicine for recovery and treatment.

Djokovic is known to make trips to Visoko in Bosnia where he meets businessman Semir Osmanagic, who claims the ancient man-made structures in the area have healing powers.

The player is also a long-time student of Chervin Jafarieh, an anti-science wellness guru, who is believed to be behind Djokovics anti-vaccine stance. The wellness guru is against militarism, urbanization, carbon combustion, mining of metals and toxic materials, manufacturing of chemicals and biological poisons, which leads to his scepticism of modern medicine.

Last year, Djokovic was ridiculed for discussing with Jafarieh on a public forum how he could alter the composition of water and food through the power of positive thinking.

I've seen people and I know some people that through energetical transformation, through the power of prayer, through the power of gratitude, they manage to turn the most toxic food or the most polluted water, into the most healing water, said Djokovic during the interaction.

Because water reacts and scientists have proven that molecules in the water react to our emotions to what is being said.

Jafarieh was reportedly selling $50 bottles of Advanced Brain Nutrients at the time.

In an interview with podcaster Jay Shetty, Djokovic described the importance of spiritual teachers and Reiki healers in his life, saying that they had helped him and his wife to open our minds, even more, to understand how we can have internal conversations with ourselves.

Djokovic also attributes much of his on-court success to giving up gluten after a Serbian nutritionist Dr Igor Cetojevic held a piece of white bread against his stomach as a test in 2010. He once said that he followed a strictly plant-based diet.

Djokovics road to greatness may have involved the quirks of alternative medicine and wellness gurus, but all of those stayed as personal choices that nobody cared about. Until the pandemic hit and an ill-fated Adria Tour in 2020 exposed the effects of his beliefs on others around him. History will remember him as one of the greatest athletes of the 21st century. Science will remember him as a denier.

Read more:

Anti-science Djokovic: Of gurus, alternative medicine and more - The Week

People may find it difficult to discern the facts about vaccines with the extensive amount of health misinformation disseminated on websites and social media.

Accuracy and truth, according to a new study involving three countries, including the United States, has been found by individuals who rely more on mainstream news. Meanwhile, people who depend on social media or less-established forms of alternative health media are more likely to subscribe to false beliefs about health.

In a study published in Health Communication, experts from the University of Michigan, National University of Singapore and Koc University in Turkey said the findings shed light on the conditions under which digital media use can help or hinder the tendency to believe in health misinformation.

These findings also show that extensive reliance on social media and alternative health media for news mostly overwhelms the individual differences in predicting misinformation belief, said Scott Campbell, the Constance F. and Arnold C. Pohs Professor of Telecommunications in the U-M Department of Communication and Media.

Campbell and colleagues also investigated how different thinking styles can support and suppress the links between media use and health misinformation belief.

The findings show that in addition to social and alternative media use for health information, those most susceptible also tend to place a high degree of trust in their own intuition when encountering new information (faith in intuition) and prefer to make sense of new information in elaborate and structured ways (need for cognition).

These personal styles interact with media use to predict whether people are likely to believe false information about health and health care, the researchers say.

More than 3,600 participants in Singapore, Turkey and the U.S. disclosed their beliefs about vaccines, genetically modified foods and alternative medicine. The information sources involved mainstream (or legacy) media, social media and alternative health outlets, which advocate homeopathic remedies over conventional medicine.

This emergent pattern underscores the possibility that institutional news sources could better protect from the spread of misinformation than social media, perhaps because of editorial gatekeeping differences across news, social and alternative media, Campbell said.

Study co-authors include Yuanyuan Wu and Ozan Kuru of National University and Lemi Baruh of Koc University.

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Mainstream news more reliable than social, alternative media for accurate health information - University of Michigan News

Thailand was not always a progressive place for cannabis policy. However, it has certainly made up for lost time.

It was the first country in its entire region to legalize cannabis for medical use, withThailands medical cannabismodel including a provision for all households to cultivate cannabis and sell it.

Thailands government even issues very low interest loans for aspiring cannabis cultivators. Considering how harsh the regions cannabis laws are, Thailands cannabis policy is particularly inspiring.

Adult-use legalization is on the horizon in Thailand. If the government has its way, Thailand will have local strains registered at the international level.

RELATED:Other Countries Should Copy Thailand's New Cannabis Cultivation Model

The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine hasannounced plansto register local cannabis strains as national heritage items, after which Thailand will pursue Unesco recognition.

According to Unescoswebsite, UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in education, sciences and culture.

The Department of Traditional and Alternative Medicine has analyzed 30 strains that are dominant in the country, recorded the DNA of each strain, and will use the related information to register geographical indications.

The move is timely, withThailands Ministry of Public Healthindicating in recent weeks that the government plans to pursue full legalization in 2022.

Thailand is obviously not the only region of the planet where particular cannabis strains are synonymous with the country itself.

Jamaica is well known for its cannabis varieties, as are South American countries like Colombia and its famed Colombian Red strain.

Mexico, which is also pursuing ambitious cannabis industry plans similar to Jamaica and Colombia, is famous for such strains as Acapulco Gold, Michoacan, and Oaxacan.

Many regions of the world are home to world-class cannabis strains, and even though those strains have spread throughout the world, they will always be known for where they originated.

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Thailand Could Lead the Way for International Strain Registration - Green Entrepreneur

CHAMPAIGN, ILL (WAND) : Illinois racked up $1.38 billion in Cannabis revenue and Champaign Dispensary nuEra is feeling that high.

According to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the $1.38 billion is more than double the total from 2020. Alex Carretto, the the nuEra Campustown General Manager, tells WAND their growth is rapid and it's only up from there. "We've been growing each month, so each month is getting better for us, with the new year we're looking for Spring semester coming, with the students and everything coming back." He says it's not only students but the rest of the community is contributing to their widespread success.

Recreational sales hit a record high in December 2021. Sales hit $138 millions just that month. Carretto says those record high numbers come mainly out of more curiosity regarding the benefits of Cannabis. "The pandemic has a lot to do with it. People are looking for alternative medicine and you know they've kind of leaned on cannabis for that," and many are leaning on nuEra as well.

nuEra dispensaries are exploding across the state, Carretto says nuEra is doing fantastic numbers as a company, "revenue has grown by 44%" in 2021. He mentions as more adult-use dispensaries open up across the area, "it's going to be more accessible, numbers will keep growing."

Cannabis was legalized in Illinois on January 1st, 2021. With it's proven success in the state, nuEra says it's an ever growing industry. "We just want to expand, cover as much of the state as possible and provide the best services we can." Carretto says," It's really exciting to be in an industry that's fresh brand new and just being able to see it grow and just see it rise, rise and rise."

State law requires 25% of Marijuana tax dollars to go to programs aimed at helping people with legal aid, youth development and prison re-entry.

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Marijuana sales booming in Illinois and nuEra is feeling the impact - WAND

T WIN FALLS The holidays are behind us, the new year has begun, and now the Magic Valley is in its darkest, coldest season. It is easy to want to hunker down and hibernate this time of year, and for some, that can add up to a case of the winter blues.

Seasonal depression can take a toll on productivity at work, hamper personal relationships, and add stressors to already hectic lives. If you find yourself waking up on dark winter mornings feeling nervous or stressed out before the day has even begun, consider taking a cold shower.

Jaime Goffin is a licensed clinical social worker with a private practice in Twin Falls. As a therapist, she is always reading research about physical mechanisms that regulate emotion, one area of research that examines the role of the nervous system on seasonal depression. Goffin said that research shows that a cold shower in the morning can be as effective for mild depression or seasonal blues as taking an antidepressant.

What that cold shower does is it regulates the vagus nerve, Goffin said. If you think about people waking up and already feeling unmotivated, or even, when people wake up theyre already experiencing anxiety.

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The vagus nerve is one of the bodys central nerves, running from the base of the brain all the way down to the pelvis. The vagus nerve is associated with the heart, lungs and digestive tract, and some research shows that stimulating the vagus nerve is one way to achieve a sense of safety and well-being.

Another key way to keep the vagus nerve in a prime stimulated state is exercise, Goffin said.

When our body moves it sends a message that we are OK, Goffin said. (One thing) Im a huge believer in for getting through the winter is daily movement. And if you can get some of that outside when theres a little bit of sunlight, even better.

Like many therapists in the Magic Valley, Goffin sees an increase in clients seeking therapy during the winter months. While there is no substitute for therapy when facing mental health issues like depression, trauma or crisis, small changes to daily routines can help relieve some symptoms of mild seasonal depressions like the winter blues.

Goffin said part of coping with the mid-winter blues is becoming intentional about including some small lifestyle changes that can contribute to positive mood changes. Those small changes can be easy to do, and stack up to create a positive response to blue moods brought about by cold dreary days.

Starting the day with a bit of time outside around sunrise can help jump-start our bodies, Goffin said.

Most people arent getting any light exposure at sunrise and also in the evening, Goffin said. Most people are waking up in the dark, so were naturally not getting some of that vitamin D sunlight.

By getting outside around sunrise, the blue light stimulates the brain in ways that is hard to reproduce with artificial interior lighting of the home or workplace.

Another thing to watch for is whether or not youre getting enough sleep.

Sleep is probably our best medicine, Goffin said. If you look at mental health issues, people not having good sleep is probably the most common denominator.

Goffin cautions that major depression and other serious mental health issues would benefit from more involved therapy.

Robin Bailly echoes the advice that staying active through the dark cold months can make a huge difference in seasonal depression.

When people are more active, regardless of when its winter and the sun isnt out, or when its nice out, if people get outside, it completely changes their mental health, Bailly said. Even if its cold outside, standing outside for three to 10 minutes is going to change your mood, regardless of whether the suns out or not.

Bailly started as a counselor in 2012. In 2019, she started adding more energy work into her practice, using essential oils and guided meditation. Bailly has also begun using a Japanese energy therapy called reiki to complement other therapeutic techniques at her private practice Of The Earth, which she conducts at Float Magic.

The theory behind reiki is that energy in the body can become stuck. Reiki is a way to help move that energy out of the body.

The biggest thing people experience is complete relaxation, Bailly said. And when were relaxed, theres less stress. When theres less stress theres less pain, when we have less pain our body is able to heal better, when were not experiencing emotional pain were not depressed, were not anxious, were not feeling helpless or hopeless, and thats why reiki helps with that. Because its moving that energy in the body.

Reiki is starting to be seen in hospital settings more and more. The Washington Post reports more than 60 U.S. hospitals have adopted Reiki as part of patient services, according to a UCLA study, and Reiki education is offered at 800 hospitals. According to Bailly, reiki in hospitals is used more because it helps with pain. They are also using it in palliative care, cancer care and after surgeries because it has been shown to help the healing process.

Im not saying reiki is going to cure your depression, Bailly said. Its complimentary, meaning, its going to help that energy move, so that then you can deal with the emotions that arise that create the depression.

Meditation is another way people seek to balance thoughts and emotions to supplement a balanced lifestyle. Most people have heard of meditation, but for some who have the impression that it requires a totally quiet mind, the idea can be daunting.

In a recent Facebook post, the South Central Public Health District highlighted visual meditation as an accessible way for people to approach the practice. The post linked to a free course from the Carnegie Museum of Art, using artworks as s basis for visual meditation.

Health district spokesperson Brianna Bodily said that little easy steps toward something like meditation can make the practice seem less daunting.

Often when youre facing a mental health struggle, sometimes just getting started on some of those coping mechanisms can be the hardest part, Bodily said. When you think about some of the things that can be extremely helpful like meditation, exercise, eating healthy it can feel extremely overwhelming. So understanding there are simple tiny steps you can take that can help you get to that point where its more of a habit, something that isnt quite as overwhelming or scary, that can help you take those initial steps to take to get to a better mental space.

If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health crisis, the Idaho suicide prevention hotline can be reached by phone at 800-273-8255 or text 208-398-4357.

Twin Falls has a 24-hour crisis center for individuals who might harm themselves. There are trained professionals who can help keep individuals in mental health crisis safe for 24 hours while helping to connect them to further treatment.

High school students Madilynn Abramowski, front, and Halle Silvester attempt to slide down a grade into Rock Creek Canyon with a little help from Brystal Brady on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 4, 2022, in Twin Falls.

Sarah Burrill sleds down a hill Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 4, 2022, in Twin Falls.

Sisters Kayla Burrill, 20, Emma Burrill, 8, build a snowman Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 4, 2022, in Twin Falls.

High school students Madilynn Abramowski, front, and Halle Silvester attempt to slide down a grade into Rock Creek Canyon with a little help from Brystal Brady on Tuesday afternoon in Twin Falls. See more snow photos and get the latest forecast at Magicvalley.com.

A man rides his bike down a very slick and snowy 3rd Avenue West on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 4, 2022, in downtown Twin Falls.

Andrew Burrill, 15, snowboards down a hill Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 4, 2022, outside of I.B. Perrine Elementary School in Twin Falls.

Tristan Cota, 13, lies inside his snow fort as Cameron Cota, 16, builds up the ceiling of the structure Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, in their front yard in Twin Falls Idaho. The fort was twice as large before the roof caved in. 'This is why the rebel base on Hoth was a bad idea,' Cameron says as she references the Star Wars movies.

Presly Stanger, 4, takes a bite of snow while her mother, Katie, uses a ski harness to help her learn how to ski as they descend the Wizard Run at Magic Mountain Resort in the South Hills on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.

Lillian England, 13, sleds down an embankment Thursday afternoon, Dec. 25, 2014, on the College of Southern Idaho campus in Twin Falls.

Keli Park and Evan Park ride snow bikes at Magic Mountain Ski Resort south of Hansen in 2009.

Robert England sleds down an embankment with his son Nathan, 5, Thursday afternoon, Dec. 25, 2014, on the CSI campus in Twin Falls.

DREW NASH TIMES-NEWS Tate Stanger, 5, rides an inner tube down a hill Saturday Dec. 22, 2012 at Magic Mountain Resort near Hansen.

A moose runs down the road as it tries to find a way to get over the snowbanks Saturday near Fairfield.

Special Olympics athletes Dustin Houston, left, and Kolton Dalton spring on snowshoes in the 200m snowshoe event during the Winter Special Olympics Saturday, Feb. 27 at Magic Mountain Ski Resort.

DREW NASH TIMES-NEWS Derek Davis and his son Brody Davis, 4, head straight for photojournalist Drew Nash as they slide down a hill on an inner tube Saturday Dec. 22, 2012 at Magic Mountain Resort near Hansen.

Betsy Mizell finds the snowshoeing pretty easy as long as shes heading uphill. It got a little more difficult when sidestepping across a hill.

Evan Park rides a snow bike down the slopes of Magic Mountain Ski Resort Saturday morning south of Kimberly.

Sledding in Burley.

A snow groomer passes a row of snowmaking guns on the slopes of Bald Mountain on Wednesday at the Sun Valley Ski Resort. All of Sun Valleys 522 snowmaking guns have been replaced by state-of-the-art guns, which are a third more efficient than the old ones.

Members of the ski patrol ride the lift up to the top of the mountain Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, during opening day at Magic Mountain Resort in Kimberly.

Cross-country skiers on Dec. 30 use the gentle descent of the snow-filled 500 Road, where High Desert Nordic Association volunteers keep a ski trail groomed.

Jeff Anderson, with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, prepares to test snow Wednesday at the Magic Mountain SNOTEL station. The snows depth is 56 inches on the ground at the station.

Trevor Larimer, of Twin Falls, gets some air off a jump Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, during opening day at Magic Mountain Resort in Kimberly. Larimer, who's been snowboarding for 20 years, says he tries to make it out for every opening day.

Levi Valdez, 5, sleds down a hill at the College of Southern Idaho on Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, in Twin Falls.

DREW NASH TIMES-NEWS Nampa resident Brandon Mullins skies to the lodge during the last snow day at Solider Mountain Saturday, March 16, 2013 near Fairfield.

ASHLEY SMITH TIMES-NEWS Ralph West, 9, walks along Filer Avenue East on Friday with snow ball he picked up on his walk home. West picked up the snow to make sure he would have enough at his home.

Tracks left by Thursdays skiers at Soldier Mountain near Fairfield crisscross down the slopes. Skiers who showed up for opening day said they wouldve liked to see more snow on the mountain, though most said they were just happy to be on the slopes. The resort had remained closed since a March 2009 fire razed its lodge.

Clara Doetsch, 7, sleds down an embankment Thursday afternoon, Dec. 25, 2014, on the CSI campus in Twin Falls.

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Blues-busters: Beat the winter blahs with these hot takes on alternative therapies - Times-News